Sound-controller.



W. A. SOMMERHOF.

SOUND CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.2I. I918.

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'WILLIAM A. SOMMERHOF, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

SOUND-CONTROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

Application filed August 27, 1918. Serial No. 251,685.

I '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, 'WILLIAM A. SoMMER- I-IOF, a citizen of the United States, residing at .Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Sound-Controller, of which the following is a specification. e

This invention relates to sound controllers for phonographs, one ofpits objects being to provide a novel form of shutter designed normally to close the outlet of the sound chamber but which can be shifted readily to bring the various members thereof intoparallel planes one back of the other, thereby to provide outlets for the sound waves.

Another object .is to provide a sound controller which, when open, will not project forwardly where it islikely to be hit against and broken, and which will conceal the interior of the sound chamber without, however, interfering with the escape of the sound waves.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which can be partly closed to modulate the sound without, however, concentrating the sound waves in a restricted throat, but by reducing the area, simultaneously, of a series of homocentric outlets.

Another object is to provide a modulating or sound controlling device which, when closed, will serve effectively to exclude dust from the sound chamber of the instrument.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts which will be herein after more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts without departin from the spirit or sacrificing any of the a vantages of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the sound controlling or modulating device.

Fig. 2 1s a central vertical section therethrough.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 designates a front frame forming an opening 2 which, in the present instance is oblong, although it is to be under guide fingers 7 extend perpendicularly from one face of the frame 5 and are engaged by slidable members 8 extending from one edge of another frame 9 likewise provided with an opening 10. Guide fingers 11 are extend.- ed perpendicularly from one face of the frame 10 and are slidably engaged by memhere 12 extending beyond an edge of a central closure member 18 which maybe provided with a knob or the like, 14, accessible through the openings in the frames 1, 5 and 9. Each of the frames has a. recess 15 in that face from which the guide fingers extend, the recess extending around and up to the wall of the opening in the frame and being provided with a lining 16 of felt or the like forming a seat for one of the frames. Each recess is so proportioned as to receive the frame next adjoining, when the device is closed.

Parallel shafts 17 may be journaled in cars 18 or the like extending from the frame 1, and each shaft has parallel arms 19 extending radially therefrom. The arms on one shaft are extended toward the arms on the other shaft and are arranged close to and beside them, there being any suitable slidable connection between the opposed arms. For example the arms on one shaft can be provided with laterally extending pins 20 while the arms on the other shaft can be provided with longitudinal slots 21 within which the pins are adapted to slide. Or if preferred, and as shown in the drawings, only two of the arms may be connected.

Parallel links 22 are pivotally connected to each arm 19 and extend toward and are pivotally connected to the opposed portions of the respective frames 1, 5 and 9 and of the member 13.

From the foregoing it will be seen that, with the parts arranged as shown, the knob 14 can be pulled forwardly into the openings 2, 6 and 10 and will cause the member 13 to pull, through its links 22, upon the arms 19 of shafts 17. Thus the shafts will be rotated and the arms 19 will thrust, through the remaining links, against the frames 5 and 9 and cause them to move against the lining 16 in the paths thereof, thereby completely closing the opening 2 in frame 1 and cutting out the escape of sound waves. By pushing against the knob 14 the frames and the member 18 will move apart simultaneously thereby to form homocentric outlet openings for sound. The fingers 3, 7 and 11 constitute efficient guides for the parts during the foregoing movements.

hat is claimed is 1. A sound controller including frames each having an opening therein, said frames normally resting against each other and each. frame partly closing the opening in the next adjoining frame, a member movable against one of the frames to completely close the opening in said frame, and means for simultaneously shifting the member and frames to space them apart or to move them together. i

2. A sound controller including normally nesting frames having openings therein, each frame partly closing the opening in the next adjoining frame and being smaller than said adjoining frame, a closure member normally closing the opening in the smallest frame, separate means for supporting said member and the frames for relative right line movement, and means operated by the shifting of one of the frames or the member, for correspondingly moving the remaining frames or member relative to each other to space apart or move together the frames and member.

3. A sound controller comprising a front frame having an opening therein, smaller frames mounted for right line movement, a closure member, said frames and member normally contacting to close the opening in the front frame, and means operated by the shifting of one of the movable frames or of the closure member, for simultaneously moving the other frame or the closure member correspondingly to space apart or move together the frames and member.

4:. A sound controller including a member having an opening therein, parallel relatively movable frame and closure members mounted for right line movement, and means operated by the shifting of one of the movable members for simultaneously moving all of the members toward or from each other to either close or open the controller.

5. A sound controller including parallel members each having an opening therein smaller than the opening in the next adjoining member at one side, a closure member adapted to close the smallest opening, ('0- operating means upon the members for guiding the members along parallel lines, and means operated by the shifting of one of the members, for correspondingly moving all of the members simultaneously to either close the openings or to move the members apart.

6. A sound controller including parallel. frame members and a closure member, said frame members each having an opening smaller than the next adjoining member at one side, cooperating means upon the members for guiding them along parallel lines, opposed arms mounted for swinging movement, and link connections between the arms and the movable members.

7. A sound controller including parallel. movable frame members and closure member, guides therefor, each frame member having an opening therein smaller than the opening in the next adjoining frame member at one side, arms mounted for swinging movement, and link connections between the arms and the members.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM A. SUMMER-H01 Witnesses:

JOHN R. HAUGHNEY, ALBERT SoMMERHoF.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

